Vehicle frame



May 16, 1950 E. J. ZIEGLER 2,507,845

VEHICLE FRAME Filed July 19, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l wmlnnm Eiluv 76 78 OWOL ATTofe/vEYs.

E. J. ZIEGLER VEHICLE FRAME May 16, 195o 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, 1946 RM. w. A, 0 0/ E Q, T N Nw Sw m m v n w Z n IJ A m lm y a Q w X m @m d .P E m\ W, UT Ni @n uw @N N om lmp l 1| Om \I 01. s mw mm um nm m Q @WJ www .www Q v 1.--, rJ. 1|# ll llllllllllllll Il 5T mv N u mm hrm .I

patented May 6, 1.95:()

ling and ,shifting of lthe-1oad 'as k1in lthe case of transportation offl-i'vestok.

VIt'lias previously been-the vpractice. to' construct such framesv of `heavy structural membfers supp'ortedruponA heavy vviglitlon'g'itudinal :sillsyeon- .seq-uently, trailers cofist'ructed 4previous gto the ipresent invention have --a Yhi'gli center of yqgravity (cnzcfios) 'andftoolarge aipart of thel-totalifload 'pill-led bly the tractor Vehicl'efis dead weight. flhisisrparticularly true l since most highway load restrictionslimit -the total weight 1 that can be ltrans- Aported vori-ticle respective Wheels-'ofthe@vehicle l It is, therefore, the 4principal ,objects o'f f the presentv invention. to provide altrailerfframe of vstrong,.light-weightcons'truction -icapablelflwithstanding torsional strains carrying Y greater 'payl loads `lto uprovide a trai-1er frame v'constructed for supporting-the -required=1oad Y and* :transmit- -tu'fiinal -unders-i-lls; and to provide-aframewith lrelatively!light-Weighttorsionlresistingmembers @incorporated `intoi" theffrarn'e aiidgwhichmaye -substitutedior V'two br more off-the transveree rfloor supporting-members.

In accomplishing thesefandether ObjeetsLof fthe invention i hereinafter pointed but, I have s-.prolvided improvedstrueture, the lpreferredflforr'n.fof `Whieh vis illustratedintheiaceompanyingdraw- -aFig. 1- is a plan view of atrailer/frame constructed in accordance withither-presentbinventerconnected at the rear ends by la transverse V.member 24 :and at'theiv-forward ends by. ari-arcuate 'rreni'bert ofs-.cliannel-.shaped sectionrand which .joins iwithjslielside,members in curves B. The 4side members 2 and 3 and the rear members@ are of substantially the `same construction and l*have web .portions Vil' A`of :sufficient depth to. Garry the required-loadifor .which-the trailer isdesigned land connecting-inwardly. extei'iciing,` flanges' and 9 which have lateral facing terminals IB andfll substantially parallel .with the :web -l and ;co- 'operating-therewith to enhance'rigidity oiftlie iiuangesjland l. Therear member is joined -'to 'tlile'erldsof'tlie slide niernber in suitable iiianner to provide rigid connections for example, by welding. "The upper pcirtion of fthe-'forward ends otiie leide' 'ni'einbers a'r'cut away to -t ytlieen'dsll! 'of @errent-member s and whieh are welded thereto. :i'tending transversely'o theA side members in'- Lterinediate the-Websthereoiisa series oi trans- VKe Hoor supportingrnembersi locatedat suita,b1es pacing` along 'the length of thelside ,reni- Qbersftoisupport the `floor loadsfto be carried; 'he rnembers "i3 are l l'sjo preferably lofv sheet in tal `[2111331fjoeiitLtos' lritially channelfshapedfcross glseetionlgtopro `e vertical `vv'ebs l, upper ;`a;r:1`d 'lower' 'nantes [l e `and Joana terminals ii and ,18, Von thegouter/edge's otthefanges 'subst Lially ,correspondingin formltoltheisidemenibers. j sllofftliercrossf. rnfernber'sf are 'suitablyfsecufe ior'eamle, by v vfelcling them. to tl'ieinrier'` ,faces ofi-tile ebsef tlieide mernbe'rswith the Vmpi-Jer fiang'ee igllooatedgat theidvesired level iOrQSuDPortingfafloorfrnafterial l(not.entrai/r1). [In ytinegil- ,iuetrated 'inetanclthe crossrneinbers arej fb- .sltantial coiitactfvvithfthefedgesfof the terminals gflastbest-h0wn 111% Fie@ flnterposed fibtweeri `zrselected transverse 11,001" supportingernenibersat vthe rearpff the frange and :cooperating Vwith the rear trarne mernber il, lla .transverse -channel t .l il` to perry relfilelv-zsh9lt intermediate longitudinal yn ieimlpers ,2S and f-Zl .-whichiareglocated within the `selfibh of tlieside J.and rearinembers ifor attaching the rear l.vvliveel iassembly ofl-lheftraiier iv(notsrigvs/n). Y

arbe; f.orwardp0ttieni0f, the :frame carriesiihe :conventional th `vWheel ,mounting including ftransverse,membersfZZaridfZ whichar ter- .;connectedzby longitudnalbras afb-,t e La :plateZlliorminggalpartof a fiith rvvlfieelriioiinting. The plate 24 carries the usual king pin gtliat forms; .the upper ,part y of the pivot, ,with Awhich the-trailenis. connected to its tractor zyehiclegfas ,55 1in *.tliegpresent.` practice.

Extending about the upper marginal portions of the sides and rear of the frame is a rail 21 including an outer member 28 of channel shape including a web 29 spaced from the web 1 of the longitudinal and front and rear transverse members to accommodate stake pockets 30 therebetween, if stake pockets are required. The web portion 29 has an upper flange 3| abutting a flange 32 of an angle 33 that overlies the upper flanges 8 and which has a depending flange 34 backing the upper terminal flanges of the side and front and rear members of the frame as best shown in Fig. 5. The flange 3| is of sufficient width to offset the web 23 a sufficient distance to provide the desired width of the stake pocket. The lower edges of the webs 29 have flanges 35 welded to the web 1 to maintain parallel relationship of the webs as shown in Fig. 5. The upper flanges 3| may be provided with suitable openings along the length thereto to pass stakes or to secure sides of a body (not shown). The front member may be formed of channels 36 and 31 facing each other with the flanges 38 and 39 thereof in registry and welded together to form a continuation of the rail. The backs of the ends of the front member are provided at the forward ends in line with the cutout portions with channels 40 having upper and lower flanges 4| and 42 with a web 43 welded to the ends of the front member.

The structure thus far described is of substantially light-weight and is insufficient to resist the torsional strains caused by uneven roadways, uneven loading or shifting of the load as in the case of transportation of livestock. The frame, therefore, is provided with torsion resisting members 44 extending transversely of the frame between selected transverse members I3 or which may substitute for selected members I3. For example, in the frame illustrated, three torsional resisting members are shown designated 45, 46 and 41, each being of tubular form and preferably of cylindrical cross section since tubular members of cylindrical cross section provide the best structures to resist torsional stress. The tubular members illustrated extend completely across the frame between the webs of the side members and are secured thereto preferably by welding so as to form a unit. The attachment of the torsion resisting members to the side members of the frame may also be reinforced by gusset plates 48 as best indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. The gusset plates are of substantially triangular shape flt within the angles between the webs 1 and tubes and are welded thereto. If desired, the lower flanges of the side and rear members may be further reinforced by channels 49 inset between the terminals on the lower flanges and the web 1 so that the web portions 50 of the channels seat against the lower flanges of the side members and the side flanges 5| and 52 seat against the web 1 and flange terminal respectively whereby they may be readily welded together.

When the frame is constructed as described and provided with the transverse torsion resisting members, the frame is resistant to torsional strains so that the customary longitudinal sills may be eliminated. The frame structure has adequate strength to support the load and provide the draft connection between the rear wheel unit and the fifth wheel connection of the tractor vehicle.

It is thus obvious that I have provided a simple, light-weight frame for trailers which permits a lower center of gravity and allows for greater pay load by reason of the lighter weight construction of the frame.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A vehicle frame including longitudinal side members of channel shape and having vertically arranged webs of substantial depth and inwardly extending flanges, transverse floor supporting members having ends connected with inner faces of the webs by welding, tubular members extending transversely intermediate selected floor supporting members and having ends secured to inner faces of the webs of the side members, and channels extending along outer faces of the side members with flanges inturned and attached to the side members with the lower of said flanges of the last-named channels being attached to the webs of the side members for bracing the webs at the ends of the tubular members.

2. A vehicle frame including longitudinal side members of channel shape and having vertically arranged webs of substantial depth and inwardly extending flanges, transverse floor supporting members having ends connected with inner faces of the webs by welding, tubular members extending transversely intermediate selected transverse floor supporting members and having ends secured to the webs of the side members by welding with upper portions of the tubular members in substantial plane with the floor supporting members, and channels extending along outer faces of the webs of the side members and having upper flanges fixed to the upper edge of the webs and lower flanges attached to outer sides of the webs at substantially the level of the lower edges of the transverse floor supporting members.

3. A frame including longitudinal side members of channel shape and having vertically arranged webs of substantial depth and inwardly extending flanges terminating in laterally turned facing flanges substantially parallel with said webs, oor supporting members extending transversely below the upper lateral flanges and having ends connected with inner faces of the webs by welding, tubular members extending transversely intermediate selected transverse floor supporting members and having ends secured to the webs of the side members below said upper lateral flanges by welding with the upper portions of the tubular members in substantial plane with the floor supporting members, and channels extending along outer sides of said web members and having upper flanges ilxed to the upper edge of said webs and lower flanges attached to outer sides of the webs at substantially the level of the lower edge of the transverse supporting members.

4. A frame including longitudinal side members of channel shape and having vertically arranged webs of substantial depth and inwardly extending flanges terminating in laterally turned facing anges substantially parallel with said webs, floor supporting members extending transversely below the upper lateral flanges and having ends connected with inner faces of the webs by welding, tubular members extending transversely intermediate selected transverse floor supporting members and having ends secured to the webs of the side members below said upper lateral flanges by welding with the upper portions of the tubular members in substantial plane with the floor supporting members, channels extending along outer sides of said web members and having upper flanges fixed to the upper edge of said webs and lower flanges attached to outer sides of the webs at substantially the level of the lower edges of the transverse supporting members, and angles having flanges lapping the upper lateral and inturned anges of the side members to cooperate with said flanges in stiffening the side members to attaching points of said tubular and transverse floor supporting members.

5. A frame including longitudinal side members of channel shape and having vertically arranged webs of substantial depth and inwardly extending flanges terminating in laterally turned facing ianges substantially parallel with said webs, door supporting members extending transversely below the upper lateral iianges and having ends connected with inner faces of the webs by welding, tubular members extending transversely intermediate selected transverse floor supporting members and having ends secured to the webs of the side members below said upper lateral iianges by welding with the upper portions of the tubular members in substantial plane with the floor supporting members, channels extending along outer sides of said web members and having upper flanges xed to the upper edge of said webs and lower flanges attached to outer sides of the webs at substantially the level of the lower edges of the transverse supporting members, angles having anges lapping the upper lateral and inturned anges of the side members to cooperate with said anges in stiiening the side members to attaching points of said tubular and transverse floor supporting members, and gusset plates connecting lower portions of the side members with the tubular members.

6. A frame including longitudinal side members of channel shape and having vertically arranged webs of substantial depth and inwardly extending anges terminating in laterally turned facing flanges substantially parallel with said webs, oor supporting members extending transversely below the upper lateral flanges and having ends connected with inner faces of the webs by welding, tubular members extending transversely intermediate Selected transverse oor supporting members and having ends secured to the webs of the side members below said upper lateral flanges by welding with the upper portions of the tubular members in substantial plane with the door supporting members, channels extending along outer sides of said web members and having upper anges xed to the upper edge of said webs and lower flanges attached to outer sides of the webs at substantially the level of the lower edges of the transverse supporting members, angles having anges lapping the upper lateral and inturned flanges of the side members to cooperate with said nanges in stiffening the side members to attaching points of said tubular and transverse oor supporting members, stiiening members embraced by the inturned lower and lateral anges of the side members to stiften the lower portions of the side members, and gusset plates connecting said stiffened lower edges of the side members with the tubular members.

EDWARD J. ZIEGLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 144,900 Boepple June 4, 1946 1,109,613 Canda Sept. 1, 1914 1,493,736 Collins May 13, 1924 1,593,783 Stresau July 27, 1926` 1,723,518 Murray Aug. 6, 1929 1,848,895 MacPherson Mar. 8, 1932 2,001,846 Ledwinka May 21, 1935 2,329,408 Minium Sept. 14, 1943 

